Industry heavyweights help pick the best in LGBT+ music for 2014

Now in its fourth year, submissions are currently being accepted for the 2014 RightOutTV Music & Video Awards.

Continuing to spotlight LGBT+ singer-songwriters and expose them to a panel of 50 music industry judges, the RightOutTV Music & Video Awards are produced annually by Vancouver-based members of musical duo Sugarbeach, Marlee Walchuk and Nathalie Callender.

Joining the judges this year are Monica Mancini, daughter of famed film composer Henry Mancini, and Jim Caruso, multi-award winner and host of the NYC’s Showbiz Bash at Birdland. They join longtime gay arts activists and the founders of the OUTMusic Awards Michael Biello and Dan Martin.

Other judges include performer, John Gilmore, son of Capitol Records Vice President and Producer Voyle Gilmore; international recording artist Bif Naked; and Royd Haston from Warner Bros. and Walt Disney Studios.

Nathalie Callender and Marlee Walchuck of Vancouver’s Sugarbeach are producers of the annual music awards which recognize the best in music from the LGBTI community.

“It is so exciting for us to have on board these professionals who know quality when they see it and some who even promote and connect with the artists after the competition to increase their visibility and help elevate their careers.” says Walchuk.

New categories have been added to this year’s awards including Best Lyric Video, Best Song and Best Video with a Social Message which Walchuk says “highlights the focus on the powerful statements that the LGBTI music community bravely puts into the world.”

“Marriage Equality and anti-bullying are still issues that our queer ambassadors feel strongly about and we want to make sure they are heard by as wide an audience as possible. Plus, nominations and award wins certainly help boost an artist’s bio,” adds Callender.

LGBT+ artists are invited to look through their entire catalogues for works from any year in their career to be entered for Best Video and Best Song So Far and the popular Most Moving Video and Best Live Performance categories.

The deadline for submissions is September 30 with nominees announced on October 16. The “Fan Fave” voting, where the public will have an opportunity to vote for their favourite, will begin on October 6.